Article
Immunology
Caroline Schwaner, Sarah Farhat, John Haley, Emmanuelle Pales Espinosa, Bassem Allam
Summary: This study investigated the role of circulating hemocytes in both biomineralization and immunity in the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria. The results showed that hemocytes in the extrapallial fluid (EPF) played a central role in shell formation by overexpressing genes and proteins related to biomineralization, ion transport, and regulation of carbonic acid levels. These hemocytes also showed higher calcium content compared to those in the hemolymph, suggesting their involvement as a source of calcium during biomineralization. Furthermore, the overexpressed genes and proteins contained dual-functional domains involved in both biomineralization and immune response.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zaiming Han, Taifeng Jiang, Liping Xie, Rongqing Zhang
Summary: The study found that high abundance of microplastics in the ocean negatively affects the formation of shells and pearls, while low-quality round pearls contain less microplastics. During the biomineralization process of bivalves, microplastics become embedded in shells and increase the expression of biomineralization-related genes.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Hua Zhang, Gaoyou Yao, Maoxian He
Summary: In this study, a novel long noncoding RNA (lncRNA7467) was identified from the pearl oyster. The lncRNA showed the highest expression in mantle tissue and was involved in the biomineralization process.
AQUACULTURE REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caroline Schwaner, Sarah Farhat, John Haley, Emmanuelle Pales Espinosa, Bassem Allam
Summary: This study examined the cellular and molecular changes in northern quahogs (Mercenaria mercenaria) continuously exposed to acidified and normal conditions. The results showed that under ocean acidification conditions, clams were able to increase intracellular pH and calcium content, which was associated with the overexpression of genes related to biomineralization, acid-base balance, and calcium homeostasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yinghui Ji, Xue Yang, Dong Yang, Rongqing Zhang
Summary: Biomineralization is a widespread biological process involved in the formation of shells, teeth, and bones. The study identified a unique shell matrix protein, PU14, in Pinctada fucata, and demonstrated its function in the prismatic layer during shell formation. Expression in mantle tissue and impact on calcite crystal morphology were observed, providing new insights into matrix protein functions in shell formation.
MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Jingliang Huang, Li Li, Taifeng Jiang, Liping Xie, Rongqing Zhang
Summary: This study revealed that vesicles secreted from mantle epithelial cells of molluscan bivalves transport important immune components into the extrapallial space (EPS), playing a vital role in immunity during shell formation.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bowen Shuai, Tingyue Deng, Liping Xie, Rongqing Zhang
Summary: This study systematically investigated the regulatory effect of the NF-KB signaling pathway on biomineralization and shell regeneration in Pinctada fucata. The transcription factor Pf-Rel was found to play a positive regulatory role in the growth of the prismatic and nacreous layers, while the inhibitory protein poI-KB prevented excessive growth and accumulation. RNA-seq analysis identified potential regulatory genes controlled by Pf-Rel. Shell damage repair experiments revealed different functions of the NF-KB signaling pathway at different times. This study provides a macroscopic perspective based on transcription factors for studying biomineralization and shell regeneration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Caixia Cai, Qi He, Bingyi Xie, Zhijie Xu, Cheng Wang, Chuangye Yang, Yongshan Liao, Zhe Zheng
Summary: Marine environmental change has a direct impact on the growth and survival of bivalves. This study discovered a mantle-specific long non-coding RNA (LncMPEG1) in a pearl oyster, which is highly expressed during critical periods of shell development. The expression of LncMPEG1 was found to be stimulated by shell damage, alien invasion, temperature stress, and hypoxia stress. RNA interference experiments showed that decreased expression of LncMPEG1 caused irregular growth of crystals on the inner surface of the shell. These findings suggest that LncMPEG1 may play a key regulatory role in biomineralization and response to environmental stress in the mantle.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Min Yang, Xin lei Li, Yu ting Zhang, Yue wen Deng, Yu Jiao
Summary: In this study, the precursor sequence of Pm-miR-10a-3p was obtained in the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii and its expression level in the mantle tissues was detected. Pm-nAChRs alpha and Pm-NPY were identified as potential target genes of Pm-miR-10a-3p. Over-expression of Pm-miR-10a-3p downregulated the target genes and disrupted the nacre microstructure.
MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Lirong Bai, Suping Li, Pei Wang, Ying Guo, Yusi Zheng, Jiaqing He, Dan Li, Jicui He, Yeshao Peng, Dahui Yu
Summary: This study identified a TLR13 gene in the pearl oyster for the first time. The expression of PfTLR13 was found to be highest in the gills and was upregulated in response to exposure to Vibrio alginolyticus or pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The immune response to the first stimulation was weaker, indicating a potential immune priming mechanism in pearl oysters similar to acquired immunity in vertebrates.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microscopy
Hiroyuki Kintsu, Alberto Perez-Huerta, Shigeru Ohtsuka, Taiga Okumura, Shinsuke Ifuku, Koji Nagata, Toshihiro Kogure, Michio Suzuki
Summary: "Mollusk shells contain unique microstructures formed by organic matrices that control calcium carbonate crystal growth. Chitin and chitinolytic enzymes are identified components of the intracrystalline organic matrix, working cooperatively to regulate crystal growth and mechanical properties. Experimental results show changes in crystal orientation and mechanical properties when chitinase inhibitor is used, indicating the importance of chitinolytic enzymes in mollusk shell formation."
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tilman A. Grunewald, Stefano Checchia, Hamadou Dicko, Gilles Le Moullac, Manaarii Sham Koua, Jeremie Vidal-Dupiol, Julien Duboisset, Julius Nouet, Olivier Grauby, Marco Di Michiel, Virginie Chamard
Summary: This study utilizes nanobeam X-ray total scattering and reverse Monte Carlo modeling to spatially resolve the amorphous calcium carbonate compounds in mollusc shells. Three distinct amorphous compounds were discovered, and the presence of magnesium in the shell and its role in the amorphous-to-crystal transition were demonstrated. The findings contribute to the understanding of biomineralization and provide insights for bioinspired synthetic strategies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhe Zheng, Ruijuan Hao, Chuangye Yang, Yu Jiao, Qingheng Wang, Ronglian Huang, Yongshan Liao, Jianbo Jian, Yao Ming, Lixin Yin, Weiming He, Ziman Wang, Chuyi Li, Qi He, Kun Chen, Yuewen Deng, Xiaodong Du
Summary: Biomineralization-controlled growth of exo-/endoskeleton contributes to body growth and size diversity. This study used pearl oysters to investigate the genetic regulation of biomineralization-controlled growth and ectopic biomineralization. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) endocrine signal and ancient single-copy transcription factors formed the regulatory network. Cross-phylum regulation of key long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in bivalves and mammals suggests conserved genetic and epigenetic regulation. Thyroid hormone signal and apoptosis regulation affected ectopic biomineralization in pearl oysters.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xin Zhang, Zehui Yin, Zhuojun Ma, Jian Liang, Zhen Zhang, Liping Yao, Xia Chen, Xiaojun Liu, Rongqing Zhang
Summary: A potential DING protein N38 was isolated and purified from the shell of Pinctada fucata, showing a mutation from the typical DINGGG- structure. It was found to induce vaterite formation during calcium carbonate crystallization, indicating its potential role in shell crystal growth control and providing new insights into biomineralization mechanisms and DING protein family studies.
MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Yu Shi, Xiaolan Pan, Meng Xu, Huiru Liu, Hanzhi Xu, Maoxian He
Summary: The study revealed the wide distribution and crucial role of Smad1/5 in developmental stages of P. f. martensii; Smad1/5, along with BMP2-Smad signals, plays a role in defending against bacterial and virus infections; Smad1/5 can regulate immune gene expression via the BMP2-Smads pathway.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)